Global Electricity Production Is Roaring Back —and So Are CO2 Emissions

Carbon emissions from power plants around the world declined in recent years, but they’re poised to make a dramatic comeback over the next 18 months, according to a worrying report released July 15 by the International Energy Agency (IEA). https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cQ7Ua/2/ COVID-19 lockdowns were responsible for some of the recent decline, as office buildings, for instance, reduced their energy consumption while employees were working remotely. After shrinking by 1% in 2019, CO2 emissions from power generation fell by another 3.5% around the world during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, part of a broader contraction in emissions during that period. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But as economies recover, global power consumption is set to erase those reductions, with electricity demand expected to increase by 5% in 2021 and 4% in 2022, per the IEA report. Expanded development of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power will make up for about half of that increase, and nuclear power is expected to grow worldwide as well. Yet, critically for the climate, fossil fuel power plants will produce 40-45% of new electrical capacity, with power plant emissions growing by 3.5% in 2021 and 2.5% in 2022. Particularly concerning is the expected growth in coal usage noted in the report. An IEA global agenda to achieve zero emissions is premised on a rapid worldwide coal drawdown, needing 6% yearly cuts around the world over the next four years. Instead, coal us...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news